Maverick City Music has publicly responded to a lawsuit filed by former member Chandler Moore, calling Moore’s claims against the group “wildly untrue.”
Earlier this week, Moore announced that he had made the “bittersweet decision” to leave the worship music collective he helped found. It was then reported by Billboard that Moore filed a lawsuit against Norman Gyamfi, co-owner of Maverick City Music.
Maverick City Music and TRIBL records are also included as defendants in the lawsuit. In the suit, Moore is alleging that Gyamfi, who served as Moore’s manager before buying an ownership stake in Maverick City Music, defrauded Moore of millions in royalties through various actions.
“Moore reposed great trust and confidence in and accepted Gyamfi’s guidance in his business and financial decisions,” the lawsuit says. “Gyamfi, however, abused his power and the trust that Moore bestowed upon him.”
The lawsuit was filed on Oct. 1. Moore announced his departure from Maverick City Music on Oct. 6. On Oct. 8, Maverick City Music posted to social media a statement from Jonathan Jay, Maverick City Music co-founder and co-owner.
Billboard previously reported that Gymafi is CEO of the worship music collective. However, in his statement, Jay self-identified as Maverick City Music’s CEO. Both men are co-owners, but the group’s leadership structure is unclear.
In the statement, Jay said that over the years, he has “made it point to stay silent on things that don’t serve our mission” and has “never wanted to be a distraction from what Maverick City and TRIBL were built to do: create space for real, raw, redemptive worship that transcends culture and church walls.”
“But in light of the recent speculation, innuendo, and allegations made by Chandler Moore, I can’t remain silent. Not when the truth is being distorted. I’ve spent my life building this and I won’t let a series of lies go unchecked,” said Jay.
“To be clear: the claims being made against me, against Norman, and against our companies are categorically false,” he continued. “These aren’t misunderstandings. These are calculated attempts to strong-arm a way out of agreements Chandler made freely and later breached.”
Jay said that Maverick City Music’s “business dealings with Chandler were forthright, generous, and above reproach.”